Periodical articles, sample business plans, U.S. tax forms, videos and reference books and more. Intended to support small business owners in planning, financing, managing a business.

Preliminary Company Research

As you begin your research, focus on some preliminary facts. Knowing these will help you in locating information:

Is the company is public or private?

What relationship(s) does it have to other companies.

Is it a division of a larger company?

Owned by another company?

Does it have divisions of its own?

Does it own other companies?

What names or codes refer to the company.

Variant names

Registered name

Doing-Business-As name(s)

Ticker symbol

Has the company been in the news?

Locally

Regionally

Nationally

Internationally

Interviewing an Expert

Contacting the Expert

Call or email. Politely inform the person that you're a college student doing research for a presentation, project or paper, and that you hope they might have a few minutes to talk with you about your topic. Have your calendar on hand as you set up your appointment. Now is a good time to ask if they'll mind if you bring a recording device along.

Before the Interview

Prepare a few questions. You might start with their name (including spelling) and position title. Have a few focused, open-ended questions.

Conducting the Interview

Strive to have a conversation. People like to talk about what they know, but don't appreciate getting drilled.

After the Interview

Thank your interviewee, and ask if you may contact them again if you have any further questions.

Write down what you learned and flesh out your notes as soon as you can.

Send a thank you card or email.

Public Library Databases

The Hawaii State Public Libraries provide access to several business databases: